NATAS is calling for all parties involved in the rival fair to come together to resolve any differences for the benefit of the industry.
Speaking at a press conference this morning to explain the change in travel fair dates after “great deliberation”, NATAS president Devinder Ohri, said: “In light of news that the breakaway group will be proceeding with their plans to organise their own fair despite our best efforts to dissuade them… we felt it was the only responsible thing to do.
“Having two fairs on the same dates would have served the interests of no one and inconvenienced all our stakeholders.”
With the next travel fair scheduled from March 6 to 8, three weeks earlier than initially planned to avoid clashing with the rival event, Ohri said the exhibitors at NATAS will have the “first bite of the pie”.
Ohri said the announcement of the change of travel fair dates to members earlier last week had been “received with jubilation”.
Expressing confidence in the turnout for both NATAS fairs next year despite the emergence of a rival fair, Ohri predicts both fairs to draw an equal if not at least a 10 to 20 per cent increase in visitors, up from 110,000 visitors this year.
Nevertheless, Ohri is hopeful for the travel consultants to “come home” to NATAS.
He said: “We are the national association and we have been running the fairs for a very long time. We remain open because they are still our members and we are not closing the door to anyone.
“As we all know even the most close-knit families have their disagreements occasionally. It is how they solve them and move forward as one that makes the family even stronger.
“NATAS believes in the family concept and our fervent hope is that everyone will come home and make our family even stronger.”
Discussions are ongoing between the association and member agencies involved in the rival fair.
